‘Okay Mister Fontaume, but the world wants to know what happened to poor Stella? I have newspapers from Brisbane, Tokyo, London, New York, and even Entertainment Tonight, and all of them want to know what happened to her? Where did she disembark?’

‘I hardly think that’s at all relevant. I hired the woman to waitress for the trip, and she failed to execute her duties.’

‘Yes, but she hasn’t been seen since you left Coffs. Again, Giles, where did Stella disembark, exactly?’

‘Oh, for heaven’s sake. It’s not my fault she took it into her silly little head to jump overboard in the middle of the Pacific. I mean, how stupid do you have to be? I threw her a life jacket; what more could I have done? Surely, I don’t have to tell you how utterly awful my travels were without a proper waitress. Damned inconvenient.’

‘The life jacket was magnanimous of you. Did you even think about turning back for her? It isn’t like she could swim to Monterey Bay.’

‘Turn back? Are you mad? I couldn’t possibly go back. No, that wouldn’t do at all. I had a schedule to keep. And, of course, that idiotic stunt was her idea. No, no. The silly woman isn’t my responsibility at all. Besides, I’m sure we were near a shipping route. Yes, most likely some other boat picked her up. You understand that I couldn’t have my whole trip disrupted because one of my minions decided to duck out of her obligations. I mean, she knew what I expected from her when she took the position.’

‘It looks like we have a caller. I hope it’s one of the networks, like BBC or someone. Hello, caller, you’re on the air with Lisa Burton and Giles Fontaume.’

‘Hi, this is Stella. I just heard the show, and called to speak with Giles.’

‘Stella! You’re safe? Thank goodness. What would you like to say to Giles?’

‘Giles, you’re an arsehole. I nearly drowned. Not to mention the sharks. How could you have just left me to die?’

‘Oh, please. That’s just like you to over-exaggerate. Besides, you’re the one who jumped. I should sue you for the inconven—’

‘Jumped? I fell, and you know it. After you pushed me. If you hadn’t tried to force yourself on me, it would never have happened in the first place. And, as for your comment about me not fulfilling my duties, I’d like to know where in the contract I agreed to sleep with you? As far as I’m concerned, waitressing means just that. I never signed up to serve you in other ways. You might have thought it’d round off your evening bourbon on the aft deck, but—I promise you—it was nothing more than harassment.’

‘Oh, calm down, woman. I ought to have known better than to employ an hysterical female. It’s not as if anything bad happened to you.’

‘Oh, no, of course not. I only drifted at sea for days on end with nothing to drink or to protect me from the sun. It’s a pure fluke that sharks didn’t eat me for breakfast. Only chance washed me up on that small island. And if a Hawaiian native hadn’t been there on retreat … well, I dread to think what … I would’ve starved to death. I should report you for attempted murder.’

‘That’s terrible, Stella, but we’re all glad you’re safe. I don’t know what I would do under those circumstances; robot girls don’t float. Walk until my battery died I suppose. So where are you now?’

‘I’m in Hawaii with the guy who saved me. And, believe me, he’s so much more man than Giles will ever be … um, yes, he’s all man. Anyway, the reason I rang in … I need a Green Card, and Giles can get me one as my employer. It’s all his fault that I’m stuck here in this position.’

‘And, I’m pregnant. So, no, going back isn’t an option. And I don’t want to. That was never in my plans, and I’ll be dammed if I’m gonna let you muck it all up.’

‘Don’t look at me to sort out your problems. Why should I? You’ve done nothing for me but give me trouble. And as for that trashy book you left on board … Interludes, was it? I’ve never read such smut. That tells me everything I need to know about the kind of girl you are. Those stories are so hot they burned the pages. Ugh, all that romance—I can’t stand it, no matter how much you dress it up with alien hunks or hot shifters or dying heroines. And now you’re pregnant. Well, no surprises there. You are so not my problem.’

‘Interludes isn’t trashy, and neither am I. The book is a sexy collection of short stories that has a well balanced mixture of romances including contemporary erotic romance, shifter romance, alien romance, and historical romance, that will appeal to everyone. From sweet to hot; to friendship and second chances; to a variety of real life issues that the characters deal with, Harmony lets us experience enjoyable and steamy erotic romance short stories that will leave any reasonable reader wanting more. But then, we all know by now that you’re anything but reasonable, don’t we, Mr Fontaume? You’ve just proved, again, how selfish and out of touch with everyday people you are. Now, about that Green Card?’

‘I swear, if you don’t help this poor woman, I’m going to hack into your accounts and make life miserable for you. I’m a robot girl, and I can do it too. I won’t leave a single track. Her author already put her through enough, and most of it’s your fault.’

‘Hawaii’s nice. I want to stay here. And Kaimi is gorgeous and kind and … yes, well, things got a tad steamy on the island. It took a long time for him to nurse me back to health, and we’ve fallen in love. The thing is, I’m not ready to get married, not yet, and definitely not just to get my American citizenship—I’m not that sort of girl. Giles promised me a Green Card at the Monterey end of my waitressing gig. So come on, man, give it up. You owe me big time. Of course, I’m glad Harmony eventually came through for me, but an extra paragraph or two about a settlement or a Green Card would have helped, you know.’

‘You don’t get it. You didn’t finish your contract. So, no Green Card from me. You have to earn it—’

‘Okay, time to wrap it up, folks. We’ve heard enough from Giles for one lifetime. One last word for our guest; I know lots of lawyers and barristers, and I’m sure they’d love to hear about Stella’s plight and how Mr Giles Fontaume of New York left her for dead after she fought off his unwanted advances. On behalf of all our listeners, I’d like to offer my condolences for everything you’ve been through, Stella. We are delighted that you made it through what can only have been a horrendous experience. And it’s great to hear that you’ve found love. Sounds like your island stay might have been rather … interesting.

‘For Lisa Burton Radio, I’m Lisa Burton. I’ll post all the details about Interludes, by Harmony Kent on the website.’

As well as being an avid reader and writer, Harmony also offers editing, proof reading, manuscript appraisal, and beta reading services. As well as reviewing and supporting her fellow indie authors, Harmony works hard to promote and protect high standards within the indie publishing arena. She is always on the look out for talent and excellence, and will freely promote any authors or books who she feels have these attributes.